August 7, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Paul Blackburn (58) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports Sean Manaea pitched seven strong innings on Friday night. Then Luis Severino gave the New York Mets their first nine-inning shutout in more than three years on Saturday afternoon.
No pressure, Paul Blackburn.
The latest addition to the Mets rotation will look to help his new team complete the sweep on Sunday afternoon when New York hosts the Miami Marlins in the final of a three-game series.
Blackburn (5-3, 4.43 ERA) is expected to face right-hander Valente Bellozo (2-1, 2.28).
Severino gave up four hits and was shutout for the second time of his career on Saturday in a 4-0 victory powered by homers from Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso. It was the Mets' first nine-inning shutout since Jacob deGrom had two hits against the Washington Nationals on April 23, 2021.
The gem for Manaea — who allowed three runs and a 7-3 victory in Friday's game — and Severino provide some much-needed relief to a bullpen that had previously struggled had been overwhelmed in six games, when the Mets went 1-5.
Only Jose Quintana (who pitched 6 2/3 innings in a 6-0 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Aug. 9) and David Peterson (Wednesday's 9-1 win over the Oakland Athletics) The home team pitched 6 1/3 innings in the game) and pitched more than 5 innings during that period.
But the Mets' only reliever to appear against the Marlins was Jose Buto, who threw the final two innings of Friday's game. The remaining time is doubly valuable for New York, which is one game behind the Atlanta Braves in the race for the National League's final wild-card spot and has no scheduled break until Aug. 26.
“The last time we went through the order, our (starters) didn't get a lot of help,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “So on consecutive nights, to keep us away from a lot of different People, this is a reset and they need it.”
Bellozo might be the Marlins' best option to provide a rotation reset. Rookie Max Meyer allowed four runs in four innings on Saturday, marking the 12th time in 15 games this month that a Miami starter failed to pitch the sixth inning.
Meyer, Edward Cabrera and Rodri Munoz have pitched just 11 1/3 innings combined since Tuesday, when Bellozo went seven scoreless innings in the Marlins' 5-0 victory over host Philadelphia The Phillies had one win in the game.
Since being first promoted to the Marlins on June 26, Bellozo has thrown at least five innings in all five of his major league starts.
“He's just electric,” Marlins infielder Jake Berger said of Bellozo after the win over the Phillies. “His energy is unbelievable. He gets the kids excited and works at a fast pace. He has all the confidence in the world — that's what you want in a starting pitcher.”
Bellozzo never faced the Mets.
Blackburn, who was acquired from the Athletics on July 30, lost his debut at New York's Citi Field on Tuesday, allowing seven runs (six earned) in four innings as the Mets lost 9-4. Former team Oakland.
He has made two career starts in 12 innings against the Marlins and is 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA.
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